Tally-Ho Hotel | 3020 Douglas Street | Hotel CLOSED

My sources tell me that the pub in the Vacation Inn, 3020 Douglas Street will be closing in September. Murphy's Pub, managed by Bill Murphy, one-time bar manager at the Crown 'n I Pub in the old Imperial Inn, will close in September, the lounge will be extended and most likely the owners will add a private liquor store. Murphy's Pub opened in 1962 as the Tally-Ho Beer Parlour complete with separate entrances for the sexes and a large beer parlour catering primarily to blue collar workers.For a time there were strippers entertaining patrons. Many Victorians recall their time dancing and drinking at the old Tally-Ho. The closing of this pub is significant as Murphy's Pub was the last of the old 'beer parlour' type drinking establishments left in Victoria. Its' closing follows the closing of historic pubs such as the Castle Pub (Sooke Hotel), the Douglas Pub, the Ingraham Pub (Ingy), the Cherry Bank Hotel (replaced by a condo), Steamers Pub (the old King's Pub) on Yates Street, and the list goes on.The writing is on the wall for what is left of the old Halfway House in Esquimalt owned by the Maloney-Cambie Group of Vancouver. If (when) their proposal is accepted by City Hall in Esquimalt, the Cambie-Esquimalt Inn, a drinking establishment since 1860, will close its doors.Please follow this link to some of my flickr photographs of various pubs that are going or have since closed in Greater Victoria.http://www.flickr.co...ory/4417013627/

I will complete my fourth article on the history of local beer parlour/pub history of Greater Victoria this summer: The Douglas Street Motor Inn's, 1957-1965 which will tell of the general history of five Motor Inn's that once existed along the Douglas Street corridor; The Imperial Inn (1961), The Colony Hotel (1957), The Ingraham Hotel (1960), The Tally-Ho (1962) and the Red Lion (1965).http://raincoasthistory.blogspot.com/

I appreciate your memories of these and other local watering holes you may wish to share. Thank-you for reading this post.

After 49 years under the name the Tally-Ho and recently Murph's Place Pub, the pub part will be closing for good after tonight (Friday September 30, 2011). This is significant as Murphy's is argueably the last of the "beer parlour style" pubs left in Victoria. This was a union bar and two of the eight employees have been working there since 1974!Most people have a memory or two of the place, especially many of the 'regulars' who over the years have enjoyed their time at Murph's and have interesting stories as well as fond memories of friends and staff.If you get the chance drop in and say farewell to an old fixture in the City as this is the last hurrah for this pub and the final chance to see the end to an era.http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream

After 49 years under the name the Tally-Ho and recently Murph's Place Pub, the pub part will be closing for good after tonight (Friday September 30, 2011). This is significant as Murphy's is argueably the last of the "beer parlour style" pubs left in Victoria. This was a union bar and two of the eight employees have been working there since 1974!Most people have a memory or two of the place, especially many of the 'regulars' who over the years have enjoyed their time at Murph's and have interesting stories as well as fond memories of friends and staff.If you get the chance drop in and say farewell to an old fixture in the City as this is the last hurrah for this pub and the final chance to see the end to an era.http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream

Well talk about changing times. The pub staff came in to vote to decertify the Union and possibly keep their jobs very likely at a lower wage. The results will be known in the near future. Meanwhile the only significant change is that the pub bar has been sealed off behind a wooden wall and all drinks are purchased in the lounge but the pub space remains open for the horse race enthusiast and the "spill-over" drinkers from the limited seating lounge.Also the price of a draught beer has gone up from $2.45 to $2.75 per glass - no longer the blue collar price it once was.

The Vacation Inn name is being retired and the Tally-Ho name is coming back! New signage will appear shortly.

Kitty, who formerly ran the food services at the hotel, has moved to the Travellers Inn at 1961 Douglas.

Owners of the hotel have taken over the food services and the "Hideaway" restaurant carries on, with unionized staff.

8 days ago, workers began a $300,000+ renovation to the pub at the rear of the building. It'll open in September. Off-track horse betting remains, and as soon as the pub is finished, the lounge facing the pool will undergo a renovation.

The Vacation Inn name is being retired and the Tally-Ho name is coming back! New signage will appear shortly.

Kitty, who formerly ran the food services at the hotel, has moved to the Travellers Inn at 1961 Douglas.

Owners of the hotel have taken over the food services and the "Hideaway" restaurant carries on, with unionized staff.

8 days ago, workers began a $300,000+ renovation to the pub at the rear of the building. It'll open in September. Off-track horse betting remains, and as soon as the pub is finished, the lounge facing the pool will undergo a renovation.

A bunch of the Boyz were at the new/old Kitty's on Sunday for breakfast; although the menu is bright and shiny new the food is exactly the same in fact it appears they may have 'borrowed' the old recipes from Kitty. Our server told us the new owners kept on only two of the original staff.

A bunch of the Boyz were at the new/old Kitty's on Sunday for breakfast; although the menu is bright and shiny new the food is exactly the same in fact it appears they may have 'borrowed' the old recipes from Kitty. Our server told us the new owners kept on only two of the original staff.

And he's my version (as told to me by management). I was told only one staff member went with Kitty to the new location. Of course I guess both stories could technically be true. But it is union, they can't arbitrarily drop staff, against what the collective agreement says.

And he's my version (as told to me by management). I was told only one staff member went with Kitty to the new location. Of course I guess both stories could technically be true. But it is union, they can't arbitrarily drop staff, against what the collective agreement says.

Entirely possible; our gal was very young and certainly either got her wires crossed or too new (she was a recent hire) to know the whole story. I will have to try the "new" Kitty's one day to see how it stacks up.

After 49 years under the name the Tally-Ho and recently Murph's Place Pub, the pub part will be closing for good after tonight (Friday September 30, 2011). This is significant as Murphy's is argueably the last of the "beer parlour style" pubs left in Victoria. This was a union bar and two of the eight employees have been working there since 1974!Most people have a memory or two of the place, especially many of the 'regulars' who over the years have enjoyed their time at Murph's and have interesting stories as well as fond memories of friends and staff.If you get the chance drop in and say farewell to an old fixture in the City as this is the last hurrah for this pub and the final chance to see the end to an era.http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream

I had a chat with one of the 'new' owners, Mark some weeks back and he gave me a few copies of the new redesigned look of their building. If someone here can give me a crash course on uploading images I will be glad to post them here.